Leather-treating machine.



No. 839,470. PATENTED DEC. 25, 1906. O. J. GLASEL.

LEATHER TREATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24. 1905.

6 BHEETS8EEET 1.

WITNESSES: I/VVE/VTOR ATTORIVEV PATENTBD DEC. 25, 1906.

0. J. GLASBL. LEATHER TREATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1905.

I 6 SHEETS-B ATTORNEY:

\D t l WITNESSES. ,6 i 4% PATENTED DEC. 25, 1906.

C. J. GLASEL. LEATHER TREATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULYZi, 1905.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3 WITNESEEE;

|N\/ ENTER:

ffu/YAZM /W No. 839,470. PATENTED DEG. 25,1906.

0. J. GLASBL.

LEATHER TREATING MACHINE.

urmoumn nun JULY 24, 1905.

a sums-sum 4.

- $2 Ln WITNESSES. INVENT R Z ://4. g

ATTORNEY PATENTED DEC. 25, 1906.

C. J. GLASEL. LEATHER TREATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY24, 1905.

5 SHEEN-SHEET 6. 90

Wrrmzssas UNITED S IATES PATENT OFFICE.

No. 839,470. a

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 25, 1906.

Application filed J nly 24, 1905. Serial No. 270,902.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES JOHN GLASEL, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Leather-Treating Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to machines for depilating, tanning, or otherwise treating hides, skins, or leather.

I have found that in the treatment of hides, skins, and leather, and particularly in,

- tanning hides, it, is possible to greatly de- .nipulating the hides.

crease the length of time taken in tanning and also to produee a superior leather by intermittently stretching, folding, or otherwise manipulating the hides so as to cause the tanfrom the pores ofthe hide.

According to the present invention 1 provide means by wh1ch the hides may be stretched or manipulated in a variety of intersecting lines, so that they will be evenly treated or tanned throughout.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention I have shown several embodiments thereof, all of which possess certain features in common, all as will be explained.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents in plan view a machine which constitutes one embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the same with the operating mechanism removed, so as to illustrate the frame which supports the hides. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal vertical section through the machine shown in Fig 1. This figure illustrates one of the fram or cages as removed from the receptac and placed upon a truck. Fig. 4 repr sents in section a mechanism somewhat similar to that'shown in Fig. 3 and show the powertransmitting p'ortionof the m chine lifted from the frame. Fig. 5 is a' d tail view of one of the actuators of the fram orcage and illustrates the means by whic all of the hides may be secured to or released therefrom. Fig. G-represents in'detail a portion of one of the frames. Fig. 7 represents a detail of slightly-different form of mechanism for ma- Fig. 8 represents in plan view another embodiment of the invention. Fig. 9 represents a section therethrough. Fig. 10 represents in side elevation still another embodiment of the invention, which in this case takes the form of g material to be drawn into and expelled a rotary-cylinder machine. Fig. 11 represents a longitudinal section through the machine shown in Fig. 10. Figs. 12 and 13 are cross-sections of the machine shown in Fig. 11 and illustrate the manipulation of the hide. Fig. 14 representsin longitudinal section a fourth embodiment of the invention. Figs. 15 and 16 are sectional views which illustrate the sieves, which may be located inside the cylinder for straining the tanning liquor.

In all of these tion illustrated in the figures thus briefly described the hides are supported at their edges by devices or mechanisms which are embodiments of the invencaused to automatically operate to manipulate or stretch the hides first in one direction and then in another in intersecting lines, whereby the hides are caused to expel from their pores the more or less deteriorated tanning material and to draw in, as it were, fresh material, in consequence of which the hides, as previously stated, are thoroughly 'and evenly tanned in a very short space of time. In each embodiment of the invention I utilize a receptacle for the tanning material, which may consist of suitable liquor or gas at such temperatures as may bedesired. Ineach of t e receptacles is what may be termed a cage. or frame or skeleton drum, to which separate portion's ofthe hides are connected, the hides all being arranged, preferably, in arallelism, with spaces between them for t e free discharge of the gases, li uors, or other tanning material. While coated as described the hides are thus stretched and permitted to contract or are folded or agitated or otherwise manipulated by mechanism which is automatically operated, this mechanism 5 forming a part of the cage or frame by which thehides are supported.

It may be briefl stated that each cage or frame is provide with parallel actuators, such as rods or shafts, which are arranged in parallelism and to whieh'the edges of the hide .are connected by clamps or other suitable connections. These. actuators thus serve to support the hides substantially in parallelism and may be arranged, for "instance, about a common center. Any number-of them may be utilized, and I have shown six as being a convenient number. These actuators are automatically operated, in consequence of which they serve to ICS stretch, unfold, or lift the hides and to permit them tov sa fold, or contract. They may be actuate in sequence or in pairs or any desired way to cause the skins to be stretched and contract first in one direction and then in intersectin lines, or they may be stretched in lines W 'ch form a triangle or in lines which form any other polygon, this all depending u on the quality of leather to be produce and on the convenience or desire of the manipulator.

All of these embodiments of the invention further have in common a feature which consists of the removability of the hide-supporting frame from the receptacle, in consequence of which after one pack of hides has been treated a cage or frame containing another pack may be inserted in the receptacle, so that the operation will be practically continued. The receptacle may consist of a vat or it may consist of a cylinder. Where it consists of a vat, the frame or cage is preferably arranged vertically, in which event the.hides are substantially horizontal, whereas if the receptacles consist of a cylinder mounted u on a'horizontal axis the ca e or frame will fie arranged horizontally, an the .hides in' this case will be substantially vertical. In the event that a cylinder be utilized as the receptacle for the tannin rial I may provide for rotating it, and I may also provide for effecting a relative bodily movement of the receptacle and the frame. It will be understood that the drawings which form apart of this specification are necessarily conventional in character, since the machine is quite large and it is difficult to reproduce 'it 1n detail upon a small scale.

' I further desire to have it understood that thephraseolo y which I employ in the specification and c aims is for the purpose of descriptionand not of limitation and that the which is shown detached at invention is capable of embodiment in many forms which I have not illustrated.

Referring now more articularly to Figs. 1

to 7, inclusive, I have lustrated the receptacle 20 as consisting of a vat, the walls and bottom of which may be constructed of wood or-of any other material. The vat is illustrated as circular in plan "view, although, as previously stated, this is not essentlal. Within the receptacle may be laced a frame, the right of Fi 3. This frame comprises ends 21 22, whic are connected by the actuators or bars 23 andby any'braces or connections which may be regarded as desirable-such, for'instance, as those indicated at 24which are secured to the end 22 and attached to the end 23 by nuts on the threaded ends thereof. The actuators are illustrated in Fig. 6 as consisting of hollow shafts in which are inserted bars 25, having upwardly-projecting squared ends 26. Inthis case the hollow shafts 23 are provided with keyhole-slots 27, into which the mate-' knotted ends of ropes, cords, or other flexible connections are inserted; These connections have at their free ends clamps 29, which may be secured to the hides, which are indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 at 30. By rotating the ac- 7o tuators the hides may be stretched and ermitted to contract or maybe permitte to sag and then again strai htened, as desired.

In order to effect a simu taneous disconnec tion of the hides from the actuators, there is around each of the hollow shafts 23, as shown in Fig. 6, a sleeve 31 withslots 32.- These slots coact with the keyhole-slots 27 so that when the sleeve 31 is depressed the connections 28 are maintained in the slot 27. By lifting the sleeve 31, however, the knotted ends of the connections 28 may be raised so that they will drop out from the larger end of the slots 27 In lieu, however, of employing v the flexible connections 28 in combination with the hollow shaft 23, I may use a crank construction such as illustrated in Fig. 7 In this case the clamps 29 are mounted upon connecting-rods 33, which are journaled upon a crank 34, the upper end .35 of which is squared at 36. The ends of the cranks are journaled in the end disks 21 22 of the frame or ca e. When the cranks 34 are rocked, the hide will be stretched, loosened, or. otherwise manipulated, as previously stated. 9 5

For effecting the intermittent or autoiratic movement of the actuators various mechanisnzsmay be utilized.such, for instance, as that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5. .Arranged on are track-rails 40, upon which may roll a truck 41 for the transportation of one of the franies or cages. These tracks also support another carriage which is movable relatively to the receptacle and which supports the mechanism. for operating the actuators. This I carriage (indicated as a whole at" A) may be conveniently constructed with I-shaped lon-' gitudinal side bars 43,.connected by crossings for the supporting-rolls or truck-wheels 45, which are flanged to roll along the rails 40. Bridging the transverse or cross bars44 is a plate 46, rovided with a journal-bearing. for a vertica l axially movable in the hearing. The upper end of the shaft 47 is keyed to slide in the hub of a worm-wheel 48, which is journaled in the plate 46 and which-is sup orted thereby.

, Secured to the lower end '0 rotate'therewith is awheel 49, which is rovided with intermittent gear-teeth, as 1 be explained. Loosely attached to the lower end of 'said shaft 47 is a spider 50. In the rim. of the spider are j ournaled a pluralit of 1 25 shafts 51, each of which is socketed, as a 52,

to receive the squaed ends 26 or 36 ofthe actuators shown'in Figs. '6 and 7. These shafts 51 are equal in number to the actuaboth sides of the receptacle 20 rec bars 44. The side bars have journal-bear 11o -arranged shaft 47, which is i- 15 theshaft 47 to 12o or extensions thereof. Upon each shaft 51 there is'a pinion- 53, which is adapted to be operated first in one direction and then in the other by the intermittent gear-teeth on the wheel 49. The wheel 49 in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 consists of an external and internal gear, or it may bea'gear having a groove or slot with teeth projecting in opposite directions. In practice this wheel may be constructed with a slot 521 and with arched connections 531 'between the rim 54 and the body 55 of the wheel. The slot 52 is adapted to receive the pini0ns53, as shown in Fig. 1. The rim 54 has teeth 551 arranged at certain predetermined intervals, and the body portion of the wheel has teeth 56, as shown. The arrangement of these teeth 551 56 determines the sequence in which the actuators are operated. They may be arranged .so 'as to cause any two opposite actuators to be actuated simultaneously first in one direction and then in the other to stretch the skin and then permit it to sag or contract, or, if desired, either the whole or any number less than the whole of the actuators may be actuated simultaneously, as the character of the hide r. ay require.

When the machine is in operation, the spider rests upon the upper end 21 of the cage or frame, as shown in Fig. 5, and the wheel 49 is in operative relation to the pinions 53, as clearly shown in said lastmen tioned figure. When it is in such position, the worm-wheel 48 is operated by a worm 60 .on a shaft 61, journaled in bearings on a plate 62, supported bythecross-bars 44 of the truck or carriage. IA belt-wheel 63 is illustrated as being-secured to the shaft 61 for the purpose of transmitting power thereto. As the wormwheel '48 and the shaft 47 rotate the actuators are operated as described. When the treatment of the hides has been accomplished, the operating mechanism may be removed. In order to do this, however, it is necessary to first disconnect the pinions and shafts 51 from the actuators and to ele-, vate the spider 50 and the wheel 49, so that the carriage may be moved along the track out of alinement with the frame or cage. To accomplish this, rack-bars 64 are mounted in gi lideways 65 .at the ends of the cross-bars 44 and are provided at their lower ends with hooks which may be engaged with the periphery of the spider 50, as illustrated in Fig. 4. Pinions 66 on shafts 67 engage the rack-bars 64 and may be rotated-to raise the rack-bars and the operative mechanism; The shafts 67 have crank-handles 68, by means of which they may be properly rotated, there being pawls 69 for engagement with the racks to prevent them from dropping after they have I been elevated to the proper plane. After the operating mechanism has been lifted to the plane shown in Fig. 4 the carriage may suitable be moved along the rails 40, and by its pack hoisting mechanism the frame, wit

of treated hides, may be removed and placed.

upon a truck 41, in which case another frame, with a new pack of hides, is inserted in the receptacle 20, and the new hides are treated as previously described. In this embodiment of the invention the frame or cage is intended to remain quiescent while the treatment of the hides is carried on; but it is quite apparent that a rotary motion may be given to the frame, if desired. In Figs; 8 and 9, for

instance, I have illustrated a construction in which this is possible. In this case the lower end 22 of the cage or frame is provided near its outer edge with a circular track 7 0, which rests upon rollers 71, journaled in the bottom of the receptacle. projects into a socket 73 at the center ofthe lower end wall 22 and holds the frame against sidewise motion.

The actuating mechanism is somewhat different from that previously described, and it consists of a spider, 74, in which are journaled the shafts 51 which carry the pinions 53. This spider is adapted to rest upon thetop of the cage, and the spider and cage have coacting stops or projections 75 76, so that when the spider is rotated the frame or cage is caused to move with it. v

To effect the actuation of the spider, it is provided with a circular flange 77, having bevel gear-teeth 78, whichintermesh with a bevel-gear 79 ona transverse shaft 80. This shaft is provided with end portions journaled in bearings 81 81 and with the removable central portion connected to the end portions by suitable couplings. When the frame or cage is to be removed, the central portion of the shaft is uncoupled. One of the end portions of the shaft has a belt-wheel 83 for effecting its rotation.

An upstanding stud 72' Inasmuch as the frame is rotated, the

teeth with which the pinions 53 are engaged may be stationarily mounted, and therefore they are formed upon a stationary gear ,84, which maybe remov'ably secured to the upwardly-projecting portion of the receptacle In this embodiment of the invention the frame or cage is thus rotated, and the actuators are rotated upon their own axes in addition to their revoluble movement about the axis of rotation of the cage. previously indicated, however, it is quite ap parentthat the receptacle may consist of a cylinder capable of rotation upon a substantially horizontal axis, and in Figs. 10 to 16 I have illustrated such a construction.

Referring first to Figs. 10 to 12, the cylinder is indicated at 90, and it is supported upon rolls 91 91 on shafts 92. By suitable mechanism to be explained the cylinder is ro-' rated on its own axis. One end 93 of the cylinder is preferably removable, so that the frame or cage therein may be withdrawn.

&

The precise construction of the cylinder and its ends is immaterial to the present invention. The cage or frame consists of the ends with the longitudinal connecting-bars substantially as in the machine first herein described. The ends are illustrated, however, as having rims 95 with spokes extending therefrom to a hub, or central disk 97. In the rims are journaled the actuators 98, constructed as. hereinbefore described. The connecting-bars are indicated at 99. To facilitate the insertion of the frame into the cylinder and its withdrawal therefrom, the rims 95 are provided with rollers-99, which are engaged with guides 100, arranged longitudinally on the interior of the periphery. of thecylinder. The removable wall 93 has a projection or stud 101, which abuts against one end of the frame or cage and holds it in such position that the actuators may-be operated by the operative mechanism, which in this case is mounted in theother end of the drum or cylinder. Near the left end of the cylinder in Fig. 3 there is a transverse wheel or spider 102, in which are journaled the shafts 103, which serve as the extensions of the actuators and which are provided with the pinions 104. This spider is secured to the'wall of the cylinder, so as to rotate therewith and with the cage or frame. It also serves as a journal-bearing for a sleeve or hollow shaft 105. Upon this hollow shaft is loosely j ournaled the intermittent gearwheel 106, having'the teeth for engaging and rotating the pinions 104 first in one direction and then in the other.- Journaled in the hollow'shaft 105 is a shaft 108, which extends through the spider 102 and which has upon its inner end a pinion 109, from which power is transmitted to the wheel 106. The

wheel is provided with internal gear-teeth 110, which are engaged bya pinion 111' on a shaft 112, journaled in the spider. same shaft 112 carries a pinion 113,-which is engaged and driven by an idler 1 14, journaled on a stud projecting from the spider and driven by the pinion 109. From this description it will be seen that as the. cylinder and frame .or cage.v rotate slowly in unison the wheel 106 is rotated either in the opposite direction'or at a higher speed to effect the operation of the acutators for the manipulation of the hide. vThehides themselves are secured to the actuators by connections such as previously described, and they are arranged substantially in parallelism transversely of the axis of rotation of the cylinder and of the actuators, as illustrated in Figs. 11. and 12. I

It will be understood that with material or utilize some agent for maintains.

This I 511 of the various forms in which the invention is eming a desired temperature or forvarying the temperature of the material in the receptacle. Any suitable device by which this maybe accomplished may be used.

I have illustrated conventionally in Fig. 11 pumps for supplying material, either liquid or gaseous, into the receptacle. These pumps are indicated at 116 117, respectively, the former being for supplying the material and the latter for ejecting the deteriorated material. They may be operated simultaneou'sly or alternately.

The sleeve 105 is rigidly secured to the spider 102, so that it will rotate therewith, and upon the sleeve are two eccentrics 120 121 for operating the pump-pistons. A clutch 122, splined upon the sleeve or hollow shaft, is used to clutch either of the eccentrics thereto to cause the actuation of one or the other of the pumps. The clutch is operated by a lever 123 and the collar 124. 125 represents a cap which is mounted loosely upon the shaft 105 and upon which the inlet and outlet of the pumps are placed. This cap closes an aperture in the end wall 107 of the cylinder, and it is encircled by the hub of a sprocket-wheel'126, attached to the said end 1 the'eccentrics are clutche to the shaft 105 the pump-piston is reciprocated once for each rotation of the main cylinder 90. It is frequently desirable to introduce some chemicals or-compounds into the tanning material in the cylinder, and for this pur ose I may secure upon the interior wall of t e cylinder a perforated receptacle or box 131, to which access may be had through openings 132, normally closed by ca s 133. construction thus describe the frame or cage rotates synchronously withthe cylinder; but it is quite apparent that the cage or frame may have an inde endent rotation, as illustrated in Fig. 14. n this case the rims of the, ends of the frame are adapted to rotate in grooved rings 140, which are adapted to move along ides 100, since they are pro- In the vided with ro lers" 141 for engaging said gigides. The frame is thus supported on guides or rails in the cylinder, but is adapted to rotate relatively thereto. The spider 142 is secured to the end ofthe shaft 143, driven by a sprocket-wheel 144 and chain 145. The

inions 110 are engaged b teeth on a circuar rack or gear 146, whic is secured to the wall of the cylinder. The cylinder itself is rotated as-previously described and' the ca e or frame is'either rotated in the opposite irection or is rotated at a greater speed in the same direction, whereby the intermittent gear effects the operation of the actuators inthe manner previously described.

It willbe noted that in the two machines illustrated in Figs. 11 and 14 the frame is removable bodily from the cylinder or recepta- I cle, and when located in operative position in the receptacle the actuators are engaged with the shafts or extensions 103, which carry the gears for effecting their operation. In both these machines the spider and the operating mechanism remain in the cylinder when the frame is withdrawn.

For the purpose of delivering the tanning material to the hides I may employ any suitable form of bucket mounted upon the. wall of the cylinder, as illustrated in my copending application. In Figs. 16 and 17 I have illustrated a bucket or elevating device for the tanning material which also serves as a sieve for straining out the pieces of flesh and other foreign substances. are indicated at 150 and consist of anysuitable foraminous material, such as canvas, cotton or linen cloth, or closely-woven wirecloth. These buckets are attached at their ends to the interior of the cylinder-wall, as indicated at 151. hey are bent to form buckets with the mouth open, as indicated at 152. Extendin along each bucket is a rod or bar 153, whic serves to partially sup )ort it and also to permit the lower portion of the bucket to bulge outward and form a sack, as

tempting to set forth all of th at x, for the retention of the foreign substanceswhich may find their way into the As each bucket descends it is filled with tanning material, and as the bucket is carried over in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1 6 the tanning-material drips out and is delivered to the pack of hidesin the cylinder. At the same time, as previously stated, the pieces of flesh and foreign substances are retained. Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a way of constructing and using the same, although without at which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, I declare that what I claim is- 1. In a machine of the character described, acle for the material with which hides are to be treated, devices in said receptacle to which separate ortions of the 'des or skins may be attac ed, and means for o eratin said devices in consequence of whic the sl c ins or hides may be moved or stretched in intersecting lines.

2. In a machine of the character described, a receptacle for the material with which hides s are to be treated, and mechanism in said receptacle for automatically stretching the'hides st in one direction and then in another direction.

3. a machine of the character described,

These sieves or buckets I I thereof, and means whereby the hides or the separately-held portions thereof are moved first in one direction and then in the opposite direction. 4. In a machine of the character described, I a receptacle for the material with which hides i or skins are to be treated, actuators in said receptacle to which the hides are attached while arranged substantially in parallelism, and means for effecting the automatic opera tion of said actuators for the purpose described.

5. In a machine of the character described,

a receptacle for the material with which hides or skins are to be treated, a cage or frame in said receptacle, said cage or frame having lonitudinally-extending actuators, and means For connecting the hides to said'actuaors. 6. I l

' n a machine of the character described, I a receptacle for the material with which hides I or skins are to be treated, a cage or frame in said receptacle, said cage or frame having longitudinally-extending actuators, and clamps connected with said actuators and adapted to be engaged with separate portions of the hides or skins.

7. In a machine of the character described, a receptacle for the material with which hides I or skins are to be treated, a cage or frame in said receptacle having rotatory actuators and means for attachin hides or skins to said actuators, and means or causing the operation of said actuators.

8. In a machine of the character described, a receptacle for the material with which hides or s 'ns are to be treated, a cage or frame 1n said receptacle having rotatory actuators and means for attaching hides or skins'to said fecting the operation of said actuators.

9. In a machine of the character described, a receptacle for the material with which hides or skins are to be treated, a removable frame or cage in said receptacle, said frame or cage comprising ends and actuators supported by said ends, and means for attaching hides or skins to said actuators.

.10. In a machine of the character described, a receptacle for the material with which hides or skins are to be treated, a frame or cage adapted to be placed in said rece tacle and having actuators to which the hi es may be connected, and a spider having means for engaging said actuators, said means including pinions and intermittent gearing for operatmg said pinions.

11. A machine of the character described, comprising a rotary receptacle, means in sald receptacle for supportin and intermittently stretching or moving hides or skins, and

/means in said rece tacle for straining the h1de-treatin materlal for removingforeign substances t erein.

12. A machine of the character described, I In testimony whereof I have affixed my comprising a rotary receptacle, means in said signture in presence of two witnesses. receptacle for supgorting and intermittentb CHARLES JOHN GLASEL stretching or moving hides 0r skins, and f0--' 5 raminous buckets on the walls of said rotary Witnesses:

. receptacle for straining the hide-treating ma- M. B. MAY,

terial. C. C. STECHER. 

